Chapter 836: The Lantern Festival
Mo Hua, using his self-created Sevenfold Soul-Slaying Sword Style, a fusion of the Great Void Sect's Sword of Divine Dread and the Water Prison Sect's Sevenfold Blood Prison Diagram, utterly defeated the big white dog. Under Yu'er's adoring gaze, he returned in high spirits and full of pride.
Then… the suffering began.
His soul was in agony.
And not just the usual exhaustion of divine sense—but pain from the very root: soul damage, the seven souls themselves shaken.
"I overdid it…"
Mo Hua instantly regretted everything.
"If I'd known it would hurt this bad, I wouldn't have gone so hard… Just what kind of mutt is that stupid dog anyway? Why is it so strong?"
Clutching his head, he curled up in bed, the pain rendering him nearly immobile.
This wouldn't do.
If the seven souls got too damaged and the life soul destabilized, a single fractured soul could leave him brain-dead—or worse.
He had to come up with something…
Gritting his teeth through the searing pain, Mo Hua focused, sinking his divine sense into his sea of consciousness and trying to enter a meditative state.
But meditation wasn't working.
He tried resonating with the Dao Tablet—but while it could suppress evil and calm spirits, it couldn't actually repair his damaged soul.
He tried everything he could think of, but the pain remained—like his very divine avatar was being sliced apart.
Because it basically was.
The divine avatar was an extension of the soul. If the soul was wounded, the avatar would be damaged too.
And sure enough, cracks were forming along the surface of his divine form—a clear sign of soul damage from spiritual combat.
Mo Hua frowned.
Then, he noticed something: not all of his divine avatar was cracked.
The faintly golden parts were completely intact.
The denser the golden hue, the sturdier the avatar.
That gold… was divine essence!
Mo Hua's heart tightened. He didn't hesitate—he immediately began circulating the divine essence within his avatar, making it flow like liquid gold, threading through his form like healing blood.
Wherever it flowed, it began to seep into the cracks, slowly mending them.
The soul pain began to ease.
Mo Hua let out a sigh of relief.
Without delay, he activated all of his previously stored divine essence, circulating it through his divine avatar to repair the internal damage.
The faint golden divine essence was steadily used up.
But the cracks were steadily mended.
After a long time, Mo Hua finally opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.
The pain in his divine sense had lessened, and the cracks were mostly healed—though a lingering ache remained.
But this ordeal confirmed something crucial:
Divine essence can repair soul damage.
Mo Hua furrowed his brow.
Elder Xun had once said that a cultivator's divine sense was a derivative of their soul.
So if that was true, then a god's divine essence must also be a derivative of a god's soul?
Could a god's soul give rise not only to willpower but also to divine essence?
Like how the heart produces not just blood, but vital essence?
And since a god's soul was fundamentally different from a cultivator's… did the ability to generate divine essence mark one of the core distinctions between gods and mortals?
Then what exactly is divine essence?
Is it soul? Is it will? Is it a materialized law of the Dao?
What's the true nature of a god's soul? How does it differ from a cultivator's?
The more Mo Hua understood, the more questions he had.
For now, he could only bury those doubts deep inside, to slowly unravel with experience as he advanced along the path of cultivation.
But he understood one thing very clearly:
He needed to stockpile divine essence.
A lot of it.
It's essential for soul Dao cultivation, for breaking bottlenecks in techniques, and now—even as emergency soul medicine.
It's the ultimate cure-all.
But after this dogfight with the white mutt, the repairs had cost Mo Hua over half of the divine essence he'd painstakingly accumulated so far.
The once-glowing golden veins within his avatar had now faded. Some had even started reverting to silver.
Mo Hua felt a sense of crisis.
A cultivator must only move forward, never back!
He needed to eat.
Consume willpower to restore divine sense.
Consume divine essence to restore the soul.
The path of cultivation never ends—there's no room for laziness!
Mo Hua clenched his fists with renewed determination.
Though he couldn't train immediately—his soul was freshly healed and still aching. Reckless use could lead to permanent damage.
Now, he finally understood why the sect had forbidden the "Sword of Divine Will" technique and cut off its legacy.
Soul injuries weren't a joke.
He only got through this because of his solid foundation in soul Dao, his vast toolkit of divine sense techniques, a few lucky opportunities—and, let's not forget, some "delivery service" from slumbering evil gods.
Otherwise, this technique wasn't "turning will into a sword," it was literally "turning your life soul into a sword."
The stronger your sword, the closer you are to death.
"I'll have to be more cautious using that move."
If he could avoid it, he would. Even if it didn't cost him his soul, burning through divine essence was already painful enough.
And divine essence wasn't something you could just find lying around.
It's not like you could count on a kindly, sleepy evil god to hand-deliver it every time…
That said—
Any creature that could match him in a contest of divine will…
That big white dog... might not be ordinary at all.
Mo Hua rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
The next day, he bought a few chicken drumsticks from the sect's dining hall and made his way back to that remote study pavilion.
The big white dog was still there.
But it had lost all its former arrogance. It lay listlessly on the ground, clearly still suffering from yesterday's soul clash.
Mo Hua checked his surroundings—no one was around. The Sect Master probably wasn't here.
So he snuck up.
The moment the big dog saw Mo Hua, it shuddered.
But Mo Hua extended the drumsticks and said earnestly:
"I admit it. You really are strong."
The dog froze.
"A good fight breeds respect. Consider these drumsticks… a peace offering."
The drumsticks may have been "big," but in front of this massive dog, they still looked rather small.
Still, they were beautifully roasted—crispy skin, tender meat—the kind Mo Hua loved best.
The dog hesitated, looked at Mo Hua again…
Then silently gobbled them up.
That was a yes.
Mo Hua grinned and held out his hand.
"Truce?"
The big white dog looked reluctant.
But a loss was a loss—it had already eaten the chicken legs, and Mo Hua had given it plenty of face. So, taking the offered olive branch, it silently stretched out a big paw and placed it on Mo Hua's hand, giving a soft shake.
This… was the unspoken acknowledgment between two divine-path-level powerhouses.
Mo Hua nodded, deeply satisfied.
Inside the study pavilion, the Great Void Sect Master—who had actually been there the whole time—witnessed the handshake between Mo Hua and the "big dog." He blinked in surprise, then his expression slowly turned… very odd.
From that day on, Mo Hua would occasionally visit the big white dog, bringing it some snacks.
The boy and the dog, well… became sort of friends.
But for a long while, the dog remained lethargic and listless, with barely any spirit left.
Mo Hua couldn't do anything about that.
During that time, he'd been busy studying the Sword of Divine Dread, as well as the Sevenfold Blood Prison Eye Technique inscribed on the Water Prison's forbidden box. He'd become so absorbed in his studies that he had nearly forgotten all about the Water Yama.
But others hadn't.
The Dao Court Division was still investigating.
A few days later, Gu Changhuai sent Mo Hua a message:
"There's news on the Water Yama."
Mo Hua jolted, then grinned.
See? Having connections pays off. If you're too busy, someone else will run errands for you.
He quickly replied, "Where is the Water Yama?"
Gu Changhuai:
"On a Rouge Boat."
"Rouge Boat…" Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly.
Gu Changhuai continued:
"The Dao Court Division has been tracking him. He lost an arm and was severely wounded. Someone rescued him, and every land route has since been sealed. All islands on the Yan Shui River have been searched. The only place left to hide is on the water… which means a boat."
"Recently, we got intel that the Water Yama is hiding aboard a Rouge Boat—one secretly operated by the Yin Water Sect."
He paused, then asked Mo Hua,
"You're familiar with Rouge Boats, right?"
Mo Hua paused thoughtfully.
Rouge Boats...
He'd heard of them. Might've even seen one with his own eyes.
But the details? Honestly, he had no idea.
And in this situation—facing a Dao Court officer—even if he was familiar, he wasn't going to admit it.
"Not really," Mo Hua replied.
Gu Changhuai didn't seem to care whether Mo Hua was pretending or not, and continued:
"The term Rouge Boat has been on the Dao Court's blacklist for decades."
Mo Hua blinked.
Gu Changhuai went on:
"It's part of a developed red-light industry along the Yan Shui River, with the Yin Water Sect at its core. Behind it are numerous sects and aristocratic families, all pushing this business."
"They're all insects on the same string, gorging themselves on profits from the sex trade."
"However…"
Gu Changhuai sighed.
"The Dao Court Division can't move against it easily. This time's investigation is only happening because the Xia Clan is taking the lead, using the Dao Court as leverage."
Mo Hua suddenly understood.
He had suspected it—there's no way the Dao Court didn't know about the Rouge Boats. The problem was: investigating them came with tremendous resistance.
Given how many aristocratic families were involved, the local division alone clearly didn't have the strength to move.
Add in the internal mess—infighting, bureaucratic apathy—and even trying to get anything done would be a nightmare.
Uncle Gu really had it rough…
Mo Hua asked,
"So where's the Yin Water Sect hiding their Rouge Boat?"
Gu Changhuai:
"Still unclear. Their Rouge Boats are mixed in among countless sect and family vessels—merchant ferries, spirit boats, you name it. It's impossible to pick them out."
"They've been laying low, but just recently we received word that they plan to host another Rouge Boat gathering in a few days."
"Another one?" Mo Hua frowned. "Aren't they worried about the Dao Court?"
Gu Changhuai replied:
"On the surface, the Dao Court took out a group of river pirates and reported it as a victory. Since then, they've kept quiet. The Yin Water Sect probably thinks the heat has died down and is getting bold again."
"It's the usual dance—big investigation when someone from the top comes looking, kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, then everything goes back to normal. The Yin Water Sect likely believes this is no different."
"But that's only part of it. The other reason…"
Gu Changhuai sighed again.
"You're not from a noble family, so you don't understand… When a ship is too big, it can't turn around."
"Once a clan grows too large and its roots too tangled, if profit runs too deep, it becomes impossible to change course."
"This business earns too much spirit stone too quickly."
"The Yin Water Sect relies on this flesh trade. Everyone's feeding off it. If they cut it off, they lose their parasitic income and the sect falls into chaos."
"It's like drinking poison to quench thirst. You'll die one day, sure—but without the poison, you'll die right now."
"They're too far in. There's no turning back…"
Mo Hua was stunned for a moment, heart heavy with realization.
Perhaps it wasn't just the Yin Water Sect. Maybe all major powers in the cultivation world were like this.
Take one wrong step for profit, and you'd find yourself sinking deeper and deeper—unable to turn back.
Even when everyone knew it was wrong, profit had already taken root too deeply to cut away.
In the end, the entire structure collapses under its own weight, crushing everyone beneath it.
There must be cultivators in the Yin Water Sect who still have a conscience.
This must be exactly how they feel…
Mo Hua sighed.
Then he thought for a moment and asked:
"Uncle Gu, do you know exactly when the Yin Water Sect plans to launch the Rouge Boat? Any clues?"
"Some, yes…"
"What kind of clues?"
Gu Changhuai didn't hide it from him:
"Three days from now, it'll be the annual Lantern Festival in Yan Shui City. Cultivators from all over will gather to release river lanterns and enjoy nighttime boat rides along the river. According to our intel, the Yin Water Sect will mix their Rouge Boat in among the regular tour boats, then slip away at a specific river point to gather at a private destination and begin their red-light operations…"
"I see… that's… surprisingly elaborate," Mo Hua muttered. Then his eyes narrowed. "Uncle Gu, why are you telling me all this?"
"Don't you want to know?"
"Of course I do, but—"
Normally Uncle Gu was tight-lipped. He'd only spill the beans if Mo Hua pestered him into a corner.
Today was… suspiciously straightforward.
Too straightforward.
"...You need a favor from me, don't you?" Mo Hua asked sharply.
Gu Changhuai sighed.
Smart kids are good… but too smart can be a real pain.
"It's not a 'favor.' It's a Dao Court assignment," Gu said, trying to sound official.
Mo Hua raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And what task are you assigning me?"
Gu Changhuai didn't argue anymore. He just replied helplessly:
"You need to infiltrate."
"Rouge Boats come in two types. One caters to sect disciples. The other to cultivators from aristocratic clans."
"We need agents on both. I can sneak into the aristocratic one. But for the sect-based one… I have no reliable informants."
Originally, Gu had considered using someone from the Shangguan Clan or even a Gu family disciple.
But either their cultivation was too strong and their wits too slow—or they were clever but too weak to survive.
When it came to infiltration and stealth investigation, none of them held a candle to Mo Hua.
And frankly, Gu didn't really trust most sect disciples. Even among his own clan.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized… Mo Hua was his safest bet.
"If you go undercover, anything you discover—just report it to me. Not that it matters, honestly… if I didn't tell you, you'd probably sneak in anyway."
Mo Hua nodded. That was true. Uncle Gu knew him well.
He definitely intended to visit the Rouge Boat.
However, Mo Hua still had one concern.
"Uncle Gu, the Rouge Boat... that's that kind of place, right? If I'm going there to investigate, you'll need to give me a 'certificate.'"
Gu Changhuai froze.
"Certificate? What certificate?"
"You know," Mo Hua said, "One that's officially filed with the Dao Court, proving I boarded the boat to assist the Dao Court with a case, and not because I went for fun!"
Otherwise, if the Dao Court decided to launch an anti-vice crackdown and he got caught up in it…
That would be a massive loss of face.
Gu Changhuai paused, then sighed helplessly.
He had to admit—this kid was careful. Thorough. Watertight.
"Alright," Gu agreed.
"So how do I sneak aboard?" Mo Hua asked.
"That's your problem," Gu replied.
Given how sharp Mo Hua was, Gu wasn't worried in the slightest.
He'd definitely get in.
"If you need anything, just let me know."
That said, Gu Changhuai left it at that.
But Mo Hua was already deep in thought, trying to figure out how to get onto the Rouge Boat.
"Yan Shui City... the Lantern Festival… the Rouge Boat…"
After much consideration, Mo Hua realized he'd probably need to find Hao Xuan and Wang Chen from the Yin Water Sect to help.
So over the next few days, he began preparing.
With Hao Xuan's help, he managed to get in touch with Wang Chen and learned some useful details. He prepared a few formations and pills and set out on his rest day.
He first stopped by the Gu residence to discuss the plan with Gu Changhuai, then intended to head straight to Yan Shui City.
But he hadn't even stepped out the door before Elder Gu Hong intercepted him.
She pulled Mo Hua aside into a small pavilion, looking stern.
"You and Changhuai are in cahoots, aren't you? Hiding something from me?"
Mo Hua tensed.
"You noticed?"
As expected, ginger gets spicier with age.
Elder Gu Hong snorted,
"Speak. What is it?"
"Nothing major…" Mo Hua said with an awkward chuckle.
She probably didn't know about the Rouge Boat.
What she did care about… was probably Uncle Gu's matchmaking.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said:
"Uncle Gu and I made a deal. I help cover for him with the matchmaking business, and in return, if he gets any Dao Court jobs, he brings me along to earn some merit."
And just like that, Mo Hua threw Gu Changhuai right under the cart and dumped the whole mess on his head.
Elder Gu Hong was fuming.
"Bringing you along to earn merit is something he should be doing! But to make a child like you deal with me, just so he can avoid matchmaking—Gu Changhuai is seriously getting worse with age! Thinks becoming a Division Head makes him untouchable? Wait till I strip his hide—"
She shot up in fury.
Mo Hua quickly grabbed her arm.
"Elder Gu Hong, please don't get angry. This could be a good thing!"
She glared at him.
"How is this a good thing?"
"Think about it," Mo Hua whispered, looking around, "Uncle Gu doesn't want matchmaking. The more you push him, the more he resists. It just backfires. Why not let me help you from the shadows?"
"You'll help me?" Gu Hong blinked.
Mo Hua nodded.
"If there's a suitable sister or auntie, I can help set them up with Uncle Gu…"
Elder Gu Hong still looked uncertain.
Mo Hua quickly took his chance and asked:
"That Instructor Hua… you didn't like her?"
Gu Hong hesitated, then frowned.
"I looked into her. There's something… off."
"Off how?" Mo Hua asked.
"She acts sneaky. Wears way too much makeup. Her aura is messy. I don't think she's… very self-respecting."
Her words were blunt—but she saw Mo Hua like family, so she didn't hold back.
To ease her worry, Mo Hua leaned in and whispered conspiratorially:
"Elder Gu Hong… actually, I've already scouted someone out. A lady who's perfect for Uncle Gu…"
Her eyes lit up.
"Who?"
"Can't tell you yet…" Mo Hua teased, leaving her hanging.
"You little rascal…"
Gu Hong sighed, but after a moment, she smiled.
"Alright. I won't pry. But you better take this seriously. If you pull this off—this Gu Clan will be your home. Whatever happens…"
She paused, realizing she'd gotten carried away, and corrected herself.
"…As long as it's not something like defying the Dao Court or committing a heinous crime, whatever happens—I'll have your back!"
Mo Hua beamed.
"Thank you, Elder Gu Hong!"
After a few more casual words, Mo Hua took his leave and departed from Qingzhou City, heading into Gui Shui City.
There, he met with Wang Chen and confirmed the intel. He then regrouped with Hao Xuan, Cheng Mo, and Situ Jian.
The group rode together toward the third-tier immortal city—
Yan Shui City.
At the same time, the city's annual Lantern Festival had already begun, drawing cultivators from all directions.
The city was teeming with local cultivators, visiting observers, clan members from various aristocratic families—
And countless disciples from sects all across the Ganxue Province Realm…
(End of this Chapter)